A Grain of Wheat

A Grain of Wheat

There were certain Greeks who asked Philip if they could see Jesus. They had heard about Lazarus who had been raised from the dead, and therefore great multitudes came to meet Jesus. Philip and Andrew told Jesus, who answered, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” John 12:17-26.

The Greeks wanted to see Jesus as the One who performed signs and miracles, as the One who raised the dead, etc., but Jesus did not want to be seen in that way. He was to be glorified because He had become a grain of wheat!

People like to be glorified, and they like to be seen as someone who is capable of doing all kinds of things. Here Jesus shows us the way on which we shall be glorified, of how we shall be seen. We can only bear fruit by being a grain of wheat that is put into the ground. This is the only way in which we can obtain true glory. The grain of wheat loses its splendor and its reputation; it rots away to give nourishment to the new grain of wheat. You can no longer see the grain of wheat that lies in the ground, because it is hidden; but you can see a stalk with an ear. You can see many grains in the ear. Then you know that a grain of wheat has had to lay down its life, because you can see the fruit of it. This is how Jesus wanted to be seen, and this is how He wanted to be glorified.

This is also how we shall lay down our life—in the hidden—so we might bear visible fruit. The fruit of our life is our glory, because the tree shall be known by its fruit.

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19. This is when the fruit becomes visible. The heathen love those who love them. This is human love. However, Jesus gave His life while we were enemies. Therefore, the one who loves first must lay down his life. Not the one who recommends himself is approved, but the fruits shall be his approval.